Abstract

To investigate the oxygen evolution reaction of overall water-splitting process, Zr-doped alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures were synthesized by employing one-pot solvothermal route. This work reported the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical (PEG) properties of synthesized photoanodes depending on solvothermal treatment time (i.e., 12, 16, and 20 h) maintained during synthesis. The treatment time influenced the morphology of Zr-doped alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures, which directly exert an effect on the electrochemical and PEG performance of the synthesized photoanodes. The high conductivity and lowest Tafel slope value (83 mV/decade) were attained from electrochemical studies for the nanoflake morphology. The highest photocurrent of about 0.52 mA/cm(2) at 1.5 V Vs RHE was obtained for Zr-doped alpha-Fe2O3 nanoflakes and 16.17% intrinsic photon conversion efficiency was achieved for the same sample with high photostability for 2 h under continuous irradiation of light. We reported the treatment time-dependent morphology effect on both electrochemical and PEG water oxidation of Zr-doped hematite nanoflakes in this work.